Another Norwegian, Audun Laugaland, long held the lead in the race but was overtaken by Dahl and the others with a kilometer to go.

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The competition is one of the world’s oldest cross-country races and is based on Swedish King Gustav Vasa’s attempt to gather peasants for a 1522 revolt against occupying Danes. Vasa fled after failing to gain support, but the locals changed their minds and sent their best skiers to bring him back.